nanotechnology

/nan'-oh-tek-no"l*-jee/ Any fabrication technology in which

objects are designed and built by the specification and

placement of individual atoms or molecules or where at least

one dimension is on a scale of nanometers.

The first unequivocal nanofabrication experiments took place

in 1990, for example with the deposition of individual xenon

atoms on a nickel substrate to spell the logo of a certain

very large computer company.

Nanotechnology has been a hot topic in the hacker subculture

ever since the term was coined by K. Eric Drexler in his book

"Engines of Creation", where he predicted that nanotechnology

could give rise to replicating assemblers, permitting an

exponential growth of productivity and personal wealth.

See also nanobot.

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(2003-05-02)